KOLKATA, (C.M. Paul) – The mother province of northeast India Salesian province Guwahati is further divided and two new provincials appointed. Guwahati province established as the first province in northeast India in 1959 was divided in 1981 and gave birth to Dimapur province.

The Regional Councilor for South Asia Fr. Maria Arokiam Kanaga made the announcement of the new provincials in Guwahati today, 5th April.

Rev. Fr. Pascual Chavez, the Rector Major of Salesians of Don Bosco, appointed Fr. George Maliekal as the first Provincial of the newProvinceofSilchar. The new Province dedicated to Blessed John Paul II comprises of the Salesian activities in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, the states of Mizoram and Tripura, and the Dima Hasao district of Assam. It has 35 centres with some 250 Salesians. Rev. Fr. George Maliekal is appointed as its first Provincial. The province will be officially inaugurated and Fr. Maliekal will assume office on 24th May 2012.

Meanwhile, Fr. Thomas Vattathara currently the Founder Director of Don Bosco Institute, Kharguli, Guwahati is appointed 11th Provincial of theProvince ofMary Help of Christians with Headquarters at Guwahati. The province mainly comprises of the entire state ofAssam.

Fr. V.M. Thomas widely acclaimed as an HRD consultant, expert trainer, passionate youth worker, ardent educationist, a proactive catalyst of social transformation and an institution builder was born in the southern state of Kerala in 1951, but made North East India, particularly Assam his home from 1962. Last 18 years Fr V.M. has been also on the Faculty of Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration at Mussoorie training IAS and IPS Officers.